Nursing nipple



Oct. 20, 1953 E J c o 2,655,920

NURSING NIPPLE Filed Dec. 30, 1948 1' O 8 I O O O O G G( /4 Q G 6 ROJ GE 4 6 T 10 I5 6 5 f/ l l l Inventor:

Eugene J. Cronin his Attorney Patented Oct. 20, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE NURSING NIPPLE Eugene l, Qronin, Baltimore, Md. 7 v Application December 30, 1948 Serial No. 68,212 i 6 Claims: (01. 128-252) This invention relates to nursing nipples and has for it primary object the provision of an anti-clogging nipple,

In bottle feeding liquids to infants it is customary to employ a rubber nipple having one or more outlets through which formula, juice or other liquid can be drawn. Depending upon the nature of the liquid, it frequently contains particles of matter too large to pass through the outlets, causing the latter to become clogged and necessitating change of nipples in the midst of feeding. To eliminate such clogging it has been proposed to provide nipples having strainers of various types for blocking passage of the objectionable large particles to the holes in the nipple.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved anti-clogging device which may be formed integrally with or applied to a nipple.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved anti-clogging device for use with nipples which is efficient in operation and may be readily cleaned and sterilized.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an improved anti-clogging device for use with nipples in the form of a perforated tube enclosing the outlets of the nipple, by which a formula is strained of its content of lumps or other clogging particles and enabled to be drawn freely through the outlets.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter in the detailed description, be particularly pointed out in the appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

The figure is a vertical sectional view showing a preferred form of the anti-clogging device of the present invention applied to a nursing nipple.

Referring now in detail to the drawings in which like reference characters designate like parts, there has been shown a nursing m'pple I, normally made of rubber and formed in the usual manner with a head 2, a restricted neck 3 and an inlet encircling shoulder or cap a The nipple may be applied to a nursing bottle, indicated diagrammatically at 5, through its shoulder by any suitable means such as the illustrated threaded connection 6. In the head 2 are one or more holes or outlets l which are normally relatively small but when liquid is drawn therethrough are distended to a relatively larger ultimate size, the latter being represented in the illustrated outlets.

To prevent clogging of the nipple by particles too large to pass freely through the distended outlets 1, there is provided an anti-clogging device in the form of a hollow member or tube 8 of rubber, plastic or other material having sufficient rigidity to be non-collapsing, as well as resistant to the temperatures to which it will be exposed in sterilization. This tube is designed to seat within and extend longitudinally or axially of the nipple and is of sufficient internal diameter or dimensions for its upper end 9 to register with and encompass, enclose or encircle the one or more outlets I. As shown, the tube extends substantially the length of the nipple such that its lower end 10 will project or be housed within the neck portion l lof the nursing bottle 5. The anti-clogging tube 8 is anchored to the nipple through its upper or nipple outlet enclosing end 9 and may either be permanently attached to the head of the nipple through vulcanizing, or, like means, if it is to be an integral part thereof or if it is to be removable, may have a tight sliding fit through the provision of a preferably reinforced collar or annular shoulder l2 disposed within the nipple intermediate the ends of the latter, preferably as an integral part thereof, and having a central bore or channel [3 for receiving and seating the upper end of the tube. So anchored at itsupper end, the tube 8 will be centered within the nipple through the disposition of its lower end within the neck of the nursing bottle.

For access from the bottle 5 to the nipple outlets I, there are formed in the wall of the tube 8 a plurality of spaced transverse or radial openings M of substantially the same size, diameter or free area as that of the distended outlets. In number these openings are suflicient to permit free flow of fluid to the nipple openings despite clogging of one or more of the tube openings by particles in the fluid being fed, and their spacing is such as to eliminate or minimize any reduction in the strength or rigidity of the tube. As shown, perforation of the tube by the openings is preferably limited to that portion below the neck 3 of the nipple.

Since access to the nipple openings must be restricted to the tube opening, the lower end ID of the tube will normally be closed. To permit ready access to its interior, whether the tube is formed integrally with or is detachable from the nipple, the desired normal closure of the lower end of the tube is obtained through the use of a plug [5 of rubber, plastic or other suitable material which is detachably seated in or connected or secured to the tube through threading or like means.

Constructed in the above manner, it will be apparent that the anti-clogging tube will permit free access of the formula or other liquid in the nursing bottle to the nipple openings without danger of blocking or clogging of the latter, and that, through its removable bottom or lower end plug [5, the interior of the tube, as well as any holes that may have been plugged in use, can be readily cleaned. Additionally, the rigidity of the tube resists deformation of theynip'pl'e and'limitsthe extent to which the latter can be collapsed; Its lateral perforations extending below the region of possible collapse, the tube thus ensures that fluid can be drawn freely through theginimqle; outlets under any circumstances. 7

From the above detailed description it'willbeapparent that there has been provided:- an inn-- provcd anti-clogging device in the form of a tube having a plurality of perforations whichmay be integral with or'insertible in a nipple and thereafter ensures free-flow of fluid throughthe nipple openings; It should be understood that the described and disclosed. embodiment is merely exemplary: ofthe invention and that all modifications are intended to be included; which do not depart either from? the spirit of: themevention or the scope ofthe appended'claims,

Having described my invention, I' claim:-

1. The combination with. a, nursing; nipple; having a plurality of. distendible outlets; of a tube closed at its lower end and having an open upper end for enclosing-said outletsdnsaid nipple, said tube intermediate its ends. havin a plurality of radial apertures ofgsubstantially, the distended size of saidoutlets for blocking clogging particles therefrom.

2. A nursing device comprising a nipple havingan inlet and outlet in opposite ends thereof, a collar disposed between and having an axial bore connecting said inlet and outlet end, a tube slidably seated in, said bore,. said. tube having an open upper endenclosing saidoutlet and an axial passage extending from said; end. through said collar, and said. tube below said bore-having a plurality of apertures each-smaller. than saidrpassage, and means normally restrict ing; to said apertures access; intosaid passage, fromsaid'inlet.

3. A nursing device comprising a nipple having an inlet and outlet in opposite ends thereof, a collar disposed between and having an axial bore connecting said inlet and outlet, a tube slidably seated in said bore and having an open upper end, said tube being apertured below said bore to permit flow of fluid therethrough to said outlet, and a detachable plug normally closing the lower end of said tube.

4'. In a nipple; having an outlet;at its upper end; a tube disposed substantially axially of said nipple and having an open upper end enclosing said outlet, said tube having a normally closed lowerend substantially coterminous with the lower end of said nipple, and said tube having a pluralityof apertures intermediate its ends, cachet, substantially, the distended size of said outlet.

5; The combination with a nursing nipple having a distendible outlet, of a tube having an axial bore open at, its upper endenclosing said outletinsaid nipplev and normally closed at its lower end, said bore being larger'than the distended size of said outlet, said tube having a plurality of perforations intermediate its ends, each of substantially; the distended size-of said.

outlet.

6'. The combination-.,with; a nursing nipple havinga: distendible outlet, of, a tube: having an openupper end adapted toenclose; said outlet, saidtube below said end having a plurality of apertures; each of restricted, cross section relative; to, the interior of said tube and. of substantially thev distended size of: said outlet, and

means normally'limitmgtosaid apertures access into said tube below said upper end.

EUGENE J CRQNIN.

References Cited: in the; file ofv this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS- 

